Thrive reaches out to autism community dealing with limited access to Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) treatment

ST. LOUIS, Nov. 10, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Thrive Autism Solutions, a CARF-accredited ABA treatment provider, offers assistance to the St. Louis autism community struggling to navigate the complex 2017 Health Insurance Marketplace open enrollment process. Thrive specializes in intensive ABA therapy - the only treatment for autism endorsed by the U.S. Surgeon General, the American Academy of Pediatrics and the National Institute of Mental Health.

"After open enrollment began November 1, it quickly became clear we needed to organize outreach beyond our current network of families to ensure every child with autism has access to Applied Behavior Analysis treatment," said Liz Kinsella, Program Director, Thrive Autism Solutions, St. Louis. "Finding the proper insurance plan for ABA coverage can be a challenging and confusing process, which can ultimately limit families in accessing services. We felt it was important to offer ourselves as a resource so families can feel confident they are selecting an on- or off-Marketplace plan that includes ABA coverage."

"Children with autism can benefit from 25 to 40 hours of weekly intensive ABA interventions," says Dr. David Callahan, a pediatric neurology specialist at Washington University Clinical Associates. "Therapy at any age is beneficial, but the younger a child is when treatment begins, the better."

"When families hear that their child would benefit from a therapy that is not covered by their insurance plan, the news can be crushing," said Kinsella. "Our goal at Thrive is to make sure families know about all of their options, as many people are unaware of the ABA benefits included in Marketplace plans."